Two people have been charged after a pursuit near Goulburn at the weekend, as police from the Southern Region combined for Operation Chrome, NSW Police say.
Operation Chrome ran between Friday 23 November 2018 to Sunday 25 November 2018, utilising police from Southern Region commands, working alongside officers from the Traffic & Highway Patrol Command, targeting risky driver behaviour.
A total of 78 people were arrested with 268 charges laid, including 61 drivers who were charged with drink-driving offences.
A total of 17,782 static and mobile RBTs were conducted; 357 Roadside Drug Tests conducted with 20 drivers testing positive. Nine people were found to be driving while disqualified.
There were 29 defect notices issued and three people charged on outstanding warrants.
Of note, the Queensland couple, were among 78 people arrested during Operation Chrome, after members of the public contacted police when a Mitsubishi Lancer was seen being driven erratically in Goulburn late Friday (23 November 2018).
The vehicle was sighted by officers attached to The Hume Proactive Team about 11.50pm who initiated a pursuit north along Sydney Road when the driver failed to stop as directed. The pursuit was terminated shortly after.
Later that night, officers arrested a 31-year-old man and a 24-year-old woman from Queensland when they were seen walking along Old Sydney Road about 1am (Saturday 24 November 2018).
The man has been charged with seven offences including two counts of pursuit – not stop (Skye’s Law), two counts of obtain benefit by deception, and receiving stolen property. The woman has been charged with receive stolen property, and two counts of obtain benefit by deception.
Both were refused bail to appear in Goulburn Bail Court at the weekend. The man has again been refused bail to reappear in Goulburn Local Court on Wednesday 28 November 2018, while the woman was due to appear in the same court today (Monday 26 November 2018).
Southern Region Commander, Assistant Commissioner Peter Barrie, said the operation was aimed at reducing rural road trauma in the region.
"With more than 300 personnel deployed during the three-day operation, this was a significant high-visibility pro-active operation," Assistant Commissioner Barrie said.
"Despite all the warnings, there were almost 700 Traffic Infringement Notices issued, 16 of those for seatbelt offences.
"With 323 lives lost on NSW roads already this year it is staggering that anyone would contemplate driving while drunk, drugged or not wearing a seatbelt.
"My officers will continue to target risky driver behaviour across the Southern Region as we work with the local community to drive down road trauma," Assistant Commissioner Barrie said.
